Fat fingers and .17 cal bullets

[70sdiver]

Does anyone know of a .17 seating die similar to a competition die that has a window to drop a .25 grain .17 bullet . Or tips or suggestions lol.

 

[okie]

IDK but you might do a search on saubier.com

 

[DJL]

I used Hemostats with tape around each jaw to hold those little buggers.

 

[squirrelsplitter]

I use the Vickerman seater for 17 and 20 cal

Vickerman reloading dies

Vickerman inline bullet seating die

www.vickermandie.com

 

[Tparrish]

Vickerman makes dies with the window

Vickerman reloading dies

Vickerman inline bullet seating die

www.vickermandie.com

 

[madmixerman]

Wilson seater die, pull the top out and drop bullet in,replace top.

 

[7887mm08]

I have fat fingers and i had a heck of a time with .224 over the weekend. I can't imagine .17 caliber.

 

[acloco]

My frankford Arsenal stops at 22 diameter. ARGH!

 

[Hal]

I think Posness Warren also makes a seating die with a window.

Hal

 

[Idaho-45]

RCBS makes one, or at least they used to. I have one for my 17 Fireball.....

 

[70sdiver]

RCBS isn’t making them for .17 anymore.

 

[JSH]

I may have an RCBS gold medal set

 

[Tparrish]

I think Posness Warren also makes a seating die with a window.

Hal

What Hal said. Ive got one of theirs.

 

[Dstaffk5]

Wilson arbor die. Drop the bullet in the hole, put the cap on, and seat!

 

[Richard Jones]

I wonder how hard it would be to make a 17 cal sleeve for a Frankford Arsenal universal seating die...... and wonder why they don't make one......

 

[Ray123]

I have one in 222 RCBS Competition Die set...looks almost new. Because I couldn't use it in a progressive, it has a special extra long shell holder for seating...have one in 308 Win too. Bought them yrs ago. A bushing seating die would help keep from pinching fingers, like Forester.
I use one of the newer expensive Lyman progressive press micrometer 380 dies, for the 380ACP , in the Dillion that keeps from pinching fingers...don't know if they make any in 17 caliber.

 

[SSL]

My fingers aren't large, but I am missing the index finger on my left hand. Touch and dexterity between thumb and third finger can be a bit sketchy for those little bullets, but I use Hornady seating dies with the sliding bullet sleeve. Just place and hold the bullet on the case neck, raise the ram until the bullet starts to enter the sleeve, let go and then finish the stroke. Gives more clearance than just guiding the bullet into the die mouth.

 

[OMW57]

Wilson does NOT recommend removing the stem! they claim it could cause excessive wear on the stem, therefore accuracy may suffer,
need to clarify, removing the stem repeatedly to seat bullets

 

[Kittitas George]

I've been using the Vickerman for 17,20, 22 and 25 calibers. They make an adjustable and indexed seater. It is possible to use 1 outer housing and the caliber specific seating rods, just leave the lock ring in the same position and write down the adjustment setting numbers. I've had very good results on concentricity and repeatability. The shorter cases require a different than 'standard' shell holder provided by Vickerman. Quite a few Vickerman dies are used around here, he was a local gunsmith, and well thought of.

 

[LHSmith]

Tis the reason I gave up on .17 and .20 cals....not so much fat fingers but arthur has found his way to my fingers. .30's are still fun to load, .224's not so much.